Final town hall draws two candidates

The Davidson County Tea Party hosted two candidates for North Carolina's 13th Congressional District Thursday in the second of two town hall meetings.

By Mat BattsThe Dispatch

The Davidson County Tea Party hosted two candidates for North Carolina's 13th Congressional District Thursday in the second of two town hall meetings aimed at providing members of the community with an opportunity to hear from the race's candidates before the June 7 special primary.

Republicans Farren Shoaf and Kathy Feather, alongside Nate Pendley, a representative of Republican Kay Daly, participated in the event, pitching their cases to voters in attendance, urging for a change in Washington leadership.

Shoaf, a Mocksville resident and Christian radio station owner, billed himself as just a normal, workingclass guy seeking to change the scope of Washington politics. Outlining his conservative campaign, Shoaf said he is adamant that Americans maintain their second amendment rights and said he is in support of building a wall around the United States to alleviate immigration concerns. Shoaf also said he supports term limits for elected officials.

“We keep discussing the symptoms, but we don't diagnose the disease,” Shoaf said. “That disease is the fact that we're governed in Washington, D.C., by a bunch of sellout…career politicians that have sold out we the people.”

Speaking to those in attendance, Shoaf said he has decided to run for congress because “we are at war,” with Democrats and Republicans in name only.

“I say it's high time that we send some new guards to Washington, D.C., for our future security,” he said.

Feather, a resident of Granite Quarry, cited the need for change in the way the federal government rules over citizens, citing Christian, family values as the core to her campaign. Feather pointed to her upbringing around the coal mines and steel mills of rural Pennsylvania as the source of her strength and work ethic.

“I hope to be an example to members of the community and to make them feel heard and to also know that anything is possible,” Feather said.

Feather said her role as a mom and her responsibility to hold together a family are both strengths that make her a strong leader. Feather also cited her career in the medical field as a test of her strength and commitment.

“There was a time not so long ago where the thought of a woman in politics was unheard of,” Feather said. “In my family we learned quickly that if momma isn't happy, nobody is happy. Mothers have been running the show for years.”

Speaking on Daly's behalf, Pendley urged guests to look past the speeches and promises of politicians on the campaign trail, saying Daly would be a representative whose vote was not for sale or rent. Pendley said Daly is tested in standing up to the pressures of Washington politics and will keep the interests of her district in the forefront, if elected.

“There are so few people in Washington who are willing to speak their mind and vote the right way when the hard hammer of leadership comes down to you,” Pendley said. “It takes a special kind of person to remember that 'that's why I went to Washington,' not for these people up here…Kay Daly is one of them, because she's done it."

Thursday's town hall came just two weeks before early voting begins and followed April's Tea Party town hall, which saw speeches from Republicans Chad Gant, Julia Howard, Harry Warren, John Blust, Vernon Robinson, Dan Barrett, Andrew Brock, Jason Walser and Ted Budd.

The remaining candidates, Republicans David Thompson, George Rouco, Hank Henning, Jim Snyder, Matthew McCall and Democrats Adam Coker, Bob Isner, Bruce Davis, Kevin Griffin and Mazie Ferguson were not in attendance at either town hall.

Early voting for the June special primary begins May 26. Following a General Assembly ruling earlier in the year, runoffs for all races in the 2016 election cycle have been eliminated. A nominee from each party in the 13th district race will be decided by a plurality.

Mat Batts can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 227, or at mat.batts@the-dispatch.com. Follow Mat on Twitter: @LexDispatchMB

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